Coolant leak, but where from ?????
Discussion
Went out for a blast today got back and later decided to fit my newly refurbished badges. Chim is nicely polished and so all was right with the world.
However.........
Whilst I was fitting the bonnet badge I noticed a small pool of liquid under the car. It is obviously coolant, but as I don't have access to a ramp I can't work out where it could be coming from. It is puddling between the front of the engine and the back of the radiator roughly under the swirl tank, but I have run my hand around the swirl tank and everything else I can reach from the top of the engine, but could not feel any liquid.
I'm not mechanically minded and so is there anything in this area that could be leaking when hot but not leaking when cold???
I know it's asking a lot but anyone any ideas???
However.........
Whilst I was fitting the bonnet badge I noticed a small pool of liquid under the car. It is obviously coolant, but as I don't have access to a ramp I can't work out where it could be coming from. It is puddling between the front of the engine and the back of the radiator roughly under the swirl tank, but I have run my hand around the swirl tank and everything else I can reach from the top of the engine, but could not feel any liquid.
I'm not mechanically minded and so is there anything in this area that could be leaking when hot but not leaking when cold???
I know it's asking a lot but anyone any ideas???
2 Smokin Barrels said:
..water runs along items. You need to get it on a ramp to check source. You may be lucky & find its a hose or loose clip. The radiators, however, are very prone to split.
Good luck!
Yes, will try and get it down to Racing Green during the week for a look see. If it had been the radiator though would have thought it would show itself in front of the fans not behind. Anyway one for the experts I suppose.
Thanks for the comments.
razorman said:
If it had been the radiator though would have thought it would show itself in front of the fans not behind. Anyway one for the experts I suppose.
Thanks for the comments.
Nope, the water can run along the hose & drop on the floor there.
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Sunday 13th November 19:09
Had the same problem - but I could also see a small trough of water under the radiator. I went along the 'topping it up' route for a bit but then bit the bullet and put a new radiator in.
£200 odd later and she's fine!
Too much topping up means your losing anti-freeze - not good at this time of year!
As a bonus the 'newer' radiators are much thicker and much better quality then the standard items.
Cheers
Mark
£200 odd later and she's fine!
Too much topping up means your losing anti-freeze - not good at this time of year!
As a bonus the 'newer' radiators are much thicker and much better quality then the standard items.
Cheers
Mark
Another possible is the waterpump gasket (between the pump and the main block). This would cause a leak towards the front but you might have noticed it when driving as when mine went I left a cloud of steam behingd me on the motorway as coolent hit the manifold. Very exciting...(not)
Yet another possibility is a leaking gasket between the timing chain cover and the front of the engine where the coolant passes through - happened to me and is apparently a known weakness. On mine it appeared as a small puddle on the garage floor just to the rear and inboard of the swirl tank.
My advice would be to get the Steve Heath Cooltester. I bought it recently and was able to quickly locate and sort out a couple of leaks, both of which were simply down to failing jubilee clips. It is a really useful bit of kit, is relatively cheap (£30+VAT) and is very easy to use. See the guru's website below for more details.
www.tvrextras.co.uk
www.tvrextras.co.uk
My advice would be to get the Steve Heath Cooltester. I bought it recently and was able to quickly locate and sort out a couple of leaks, both of which were simply down to failing jubilee clips. It is a really useful bit of kit, is relatively cheap (£30+VAT) and is very easy to use. See the guru's website below for more details.
www.tvrextras.co.uk
www.tvrextras.co.uk
Favourite problem is simply the blue pressure cap venting excess fluid which falls into a trough in which there are holes drilled. (part of the body undertray below radiator engine side just in front of chassis) The coolant then drains to the floor through these holes. If you look closely in the engine bay you might see a trail of dried on salts from the additive in the coolant and can trace the leak back this way.
The real question might therefore be, why is the pressure cap leaking fluid?
This can be for a number of reasons:
1. You are simply over filling the car with coolant. At cold the level in my car is around one inch from the bottom. If you are putting in more than this, then the car will always vent the excess during and often after a run, when you get heat soak back into the system.
2. You have an air lock in the system. Vent all air by following recommended filling technique in the Bible.
3. You have a coolant leak (usually the radiator). I had my radiator pressure tested by local Serck agent which showed no problems at all and yet the radiator leaked when hot! If the radiator leaks even a little coolant then air gets back in.
4. The pressure cap is shot - so buy a new one from Volkswagon dealer or good trade outlet (cheaper than TVR dealers and probably easier to get to)
Do not delay fixing coolant leak problems even little ones. The stories about gasket failures, warped cylinder heads, cracked blocks are all true and result from a failure to address the little leak problem early enough.
The real question might therefore be, why is the pressure cap leaking fluid?
This can be for a number of reasons:
1. You are simply over filling the car with coolant. At cold the level in my car is around one inch from the bottom. If you are putting in more than this, then the car will always vent the excess during and often after a run, when you get heat soak back into the system.
2. You have an air lock in the system. Vent all air by following recommended filling technique in the Bible.
3. You have a coolant leak (usually the radiator). I had my radiator pressure tested by local Serck agent which showed no problems at all and yet the radiator leaked when hot! If the radiator leaks even a little coolant then air gets back in.
4. The pressure cap is shot - so buy a new one from Volkswagon dealer or good trade outlet (cheaper than TVR dealers and probably easier to get to)
Do not delay fixing coolant leak problems even little ones. The stories about gasket failures, warped cylinder heads, cracked blocks are all true and result from a failure to address the little leak problem early enough.
Thanks to everyone for such comprehensive advice.
Will get her up on a ramp asap to check everything.
One question though.....
About half way up my expansion tank is a crease line. I can't remember where I got it from, but I thought this is where it is supposed to be topped up to. This is more than one inch from the bottom??
Will get her up on a ramp asap to check everything.
One question though.....
PeterC said:
At cold the level in my car is around one inch from the bottom. If you are putting in more than this, then the car will always vent the excess during and often after a run, when you get heat soak back into the system.
About half way up my expansion tank is a crease line. I can't remember where I got it from, but I thought this is where it is supposed to be topped up to. This is more than one inch from the bottom??
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